A FANTASIST who tricked the police and his wife into believing he was a James Bond-style secret agent has been jailed for two years.

Smooth-talking Michael Newitt passed himself off as a “special operations commander” working for MI5, the Foreign Office and Counter Intelligence units.

The 41-year-old fooled police into thinking he was genuine on at least two occasions - once even walking into Hinckley police station and persuading a sergeant to give him a new pocket book.

He made his own official-looking ID and warrant cards with a crown and the letters CMG standing for The Companion of St Michael and St George, after his name.

The title, an order used to honour individuals who have served the Commonwealth with distinction, was awarded to James Bond in the Ian Fleming novel From Russia With Love.

He also slept with a replica gun and would often disappear from home at short notice, causing his wife to think he was on special missions.

But in reality Newitt was a former bankrupt whose latest company, Micina Technologies, at Highcross Business Park in Sharnford was on the brink of collapse.

He was struggling to pay for his car, business premises and mooring fees for his £200,000 motor cruiser.

Adrian Harris, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: “He’s a conman and a fantasist who has styled himself as a James Bond character. His life has been a spectacular illusion.

“He’s tricked several people, even police officers, into believing his lies.”

Mr Harris said Newitt, of Osgathorpe, near Loughborough, first claimed he was a secret agent in December, 2006, when he fell out with the manager of a marina where the boat was moored.

He threatened him with a copy of the Official Secrets Act and demanded the motor cruiser, which had been removed by the marina, was returned.

The twice-married father of five went on to arrest a suspected drink-driver on the M6 while driving a white Volvo fitted with blue strobe lights and siren.

He then handed the motorist over to local police, saying he was on a special assignment.

When another of Newitt’s cars was being repossessed, he again claimed to be an undercover agent and showed the bailiffs his fake ID, handcuffs and a baton.

When police were called, Newitt persuaded an officer he was with the Home Office and Foreign Office and asked him to sign his notebook, citing the Official Secrets Act.

But he was finally caught out when he contacted Hinckley police station in April, claiming to have information about drug dealing.

A constable who had a military background became suspicious of Newitt’s “commander” title and looked into his history, revealing his fantasy life.

The officer later said: “I just thought he was a crank.”

When Newitt was arrested police found handcuffs, a baton, three air weapons and ammunition, thunder flash grenades, shredded identity documents, non-functioning police radio handsets and ear pieces.

He admitted five counts of possessing false identity documents, fraudulently claiming to be a police officer and possessing articles of police uniform, and carrying two imitation firearms, a replica Glock 9mm pistol and commando rifle.

The court heard Newitt, who was prosecuted in 2005 for failing to keep proper accounts, had previously approached Leicestershire police with an idea for a 007-style gadget, a “digital” pen which would save on paperwork.

Gary Short, defending, said: “He’s a man of low self-esteem and, having set up the fantasy lifestyle, he also started acquiring articles to impress. In his eyes, Commander Newitt was a real person. The persona was created to give himself a feeling of worth and to generate respect from others, and not to commit criminal offences.”

Chief Supt Garry Forsyth, commander of the south area, said: “Leicestershire Constabulary takes acts of fraud by false representation extremely seriously and Michael Newitt was identified at an early stage and arrested.

“He went to great lengths to mislead not only the authorities but his family and business colleagues. He had substantial resources at his disposal to support his claims and the officer considered the identification genuine at the time.

“We have comprehensive security measures and he was accompanied by police officers at the station.

“At no time was the security or integrity of the police station or any of our information or intelligence compromised.

“Since the incident an internal review has been conducted. Internal guidance has also been sent to officers and those concerned have received words of advice from senior officers.”